diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
index e81b526..b363f24 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
@@ -504,6 +504,9 @@ static void remove_widget(struct snd_soc_component *comp,
 	if (dobj->ops && dobj->ops->widget_unload)
 		dobj->ops->widget_unload(comp, dobj);
 
+	if (!w->kcontrols)
+		goto free_news;
+
 	/*
 	 * Dynamic Widgets either have 1..N enum kcontrols or mixers.
 	 * The enum may either have an array of values or strings.
@@ -524,7 +527,6 @@ static void remove_widget(struct snd_soc_component *comp,
 
 			kfree(se);
 		}
-		kfree(w->kcontrol_news);
 	} else {
 		/* volume mixer or bytes controls */
 		for (i = 0; i < w->num_kcontrols; i++) {
@@ -541,8 +543,11 @@ static void remove_widget(struct snd_soc_component *comp,
 			kfree((void *)kcontrol->private_value);
 			snd_ctl_remove(card, kcontrol);
 		}
-		kfree(w->kcontrol_news);
 	}
+
+free_news:
+	kfree(w->kcontrol_news);
+
 	/* widget w is freed by soc-dapm.c */
 }